We’ve noticed some web chatter on various forums (see CNET, MacRumors, and everythingiCafe for examples) discussing potential Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) test alerts some iPhone and iPad users have received.  At this point, it seems that some of the alerts were received in the New York City area, but it’s unclear where other users have received test alerts.  Some commenters astutely link CMAS to the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); however, our editors confirm that FEMA has not released any test CMAS alert messages.  In fact, FEMA plans on testing CMAS with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate later this year and into 2012, but has yet to hold a test of CMAS.

Given the fact that the government has not sent out a CMAS test alert anywhere in the nation, we feel there’s a strong likelihood that the messages received are SMS spam.  The primary difference between normal SMS text messages and a CMAS alert is that text messages are SMS-PP based, whereas CMAS alerts uses cell broadcast.

Have any of you received a CMAS test alert to your phone (iPhone, iPad, or otherwise)?